US1692813A - brown - Google Patents

Description

1920 5 Sheets-Sheet n m w Nov. 27, 1928.

E. T. BROWN MANUFACTURE OF GLASS vQS..

Nov. 27, 1928.

E. T. BROWN MANUFACTURE OF GLASS Filed Feb. 16. 1920 5 sheets-sheet 2 .,Nov. 27, 192s.

E. T. BROWN MANUFACTURE 0F GLASS l Filew 5 sheets-sheet 3 Juventa Nw. 27, 192s. @www E; T. BROWN MANUFACTURE 0F GLASS Filed Feb. 16- 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f f W n a 7e N //"1 N, `\3 w m N v v y), l\ n i W) #-1. if |55 e?) 23 g um u g: l

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Nov. ,27, 1928.

E. T. BROWN MANUFACTURE OF GLASS Filed Feb. 16- 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet ilall'l' res EDWARD T. BROWN, 0F DETROT, MICHG'AN, ASSGNOR TO FORD MOTOR COMLPANY, OF DETROT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATGI GF MICHIGAN.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS.

Application lefl February 16, 192D, Serial No. 358,979

The object of my invention is to provide new and useful glass method and machinery for glass manufacture of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the process of manufacturing may be continuously pursued, comprising a tank wherein the glass may be mixed and reduced to a molten state, means for drawingthe molten glass from the tank, means for sizing the stream of glass so drawn, means for annealing and cooling` the sized strip of glass, and arranged successively thereafter the various devices for cutting the strip into pieces and for grinding and finishing` both sides of the pieces.

lVith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination, and construct-ion of the various parts of my improved device, as described in the specification, claimed in my claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical, central, sectional view illustrating one form of tank, spout, sizingdevice and annealing` chamber or leer.

Figure 2 is a continuation thereof showing` the device which draws the glass through the leer.` permits further cooling` of the glass and conducts the glass to position where the continuous strip may be cut into pieces.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar' view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is asimilar view taken on the line 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a continuation of Figure 2 showing a side elevation of the conveyor and platform which carries the cut pieces of glass beneath the grinding and smoothing devices.

Figure 7 is a top or plan view of the device shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of one of my improved grinding and smoothing devices.

Figure 9 is a side eleva-tion of the device shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 an enlarged, detailed view, parts being shown in section. which illustrates the construction of one form of my smoothing device.

Figure 11 is an enlarged, central, vertical section,r detailed1 of a portion of my improved grinding and smoothing` device, and

Referring' to the accompanying drawings,

have used theA reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the discharge end of a tank for ,mixing and melting` the constituents of glass, whereby the molten glass may be drawn from said discharge end. Such a tank is of well known construction and forms no part of my invention, except as it performs the function of furnishing molten glass in proper condition for the practice of my invention.A

At the discharge end 10 of this tank a spoutv device comprising lower member, or slab 11, is disposed in such position that the molten glass may continuously run from the tank over the slab and be discharged therefrom. A movable top member 12 is provided for the slab 11 and the parts are so arranged that the slab 11 and top member 12 form a spout which may be adjusted to discharge a stream of molten glass of a predetermined thickness.

Adjacent to the slab 11 and below it is a conveyor 13 which is adapted to receive the stream of molten glass from the spout formed by the slab 11 and top member 12, and to convey this stream of glass to position adjacent to a sizing roller designated generally by the reference letter A The roller A is arranged on a horizontal axis parallel with the axes of the conveyor 13 and above it so that the molten glass carried by the conveyor 13 must travel under this roller, whereby the layer of glass will be reduced to a predetermined thickness. Means are provided for adjusting the roller A vertically to vary the thickness of the layer of glass permitted to pass through the pass formed between the conveyor 13 and roller A. The roller is formed in such manner as to permit cooling of its interior.

At the other end of the spoutdevice is a retaining' member 14 at each side of the device and which extends from the side of the spout forwardly to a position where its forward edge is contiguous to the periphery of the roller A It will thus be seen that the members 14 form side walls to control the .width of the stream of molten glass from the spout, thereby insuring that the stream of glass passing beneath the roller A will be of a uniform width which will be determined by the position of the retaining members 14.

In this connection it may be mentioned that the roller A is driven by a chain indicated by the dotted lines 15, which in turn is driven by the shaft operably connected with the conveyor 13, to cause the periphery of the roller A to travel at the same speed as the surface of the conveyor 13.

Means may also be provided for heating the roller A to such a temperature that it will properly co-act with the molten glass to reduce it to the thickness desired. The roller may also be so arranged that it travels at a somewhat less speed than the surface of the conveyor 13 to thereby stretch the glass passing therebeneath.

The glass passing beneath roller A will still be in a somewhat molten condition, although the temperature will be very considerably less than that at which it was discharged from the tank 10. lhe conveyor 13 carries this glass in the condition mentioned through a chamber designated generally by the refer- 3. ence letter B and discharges it onto the slab in the leer The leer which is used in connection with my improved method of manufacturing glass comprises upper and lower chambers 16 and 1T, into which heat from any suitable source is directed through the openings 18, but it will be understood that the leer l may be one chamber and that the slab which I have designated by the reference numeral 19 may be supported in the one chamber if so desired in any suitable manner. vThe openings 18 and the burners adj acent thereto are so arranged that the left hand end of the leer, as shown in'Figure 1, :is heat ed to a much greater temperature than is'the Vright hand end, and the temperature between these two points is graduated by the number of burners or position or size ofthe openings K18. It vwill be understood that this graduation of the heat from the receiving to the discharge end of the leer allows substantially moltenglass, which is received at the receiving end ofthe slab 19, to be gradually cooled or annealed, thereby eliminating the strains in the glass which would possibly cause it to be unduly brittle or irregular in texture.

A plurality of rollers 2O may bc arranged in the surface of the slab 19 and so disposed that their upper surfaces are substantially flush with the upper surface of the slab so that said rollers may lessen the energy required to pull the glass over the slab while at the same time they will not tend to bend or wave the glass.

Following` the leer is an unheated chamber, designated generally by the refer'- ence letter D ln the chamber D is one end of a conveyor 21 which receives the congealed glass from the leer C, carries it through the chamber D and extends out to position spaced from the end of the chamber D. Disposed above the conveyor 2l in such position that the parts thereof may Contact with the glass on the conveyor 21 is a second conveyor 22. The conveyor 22 is arranged to be driven by a chain 23, which is connected with the drivingl mechanism which moves the conveyor 21 and travels at the same speed as the conveyor 21. The purpose of the con* veyor 22 is to grip the strip of glass on the conveyor 21 between the two conveyors, thereby drawing the strip of glass through the leer C and over the slab 19. The conveyor' 22 may be arranged in any suitable way to accomplish this gripping, but I preferably f orm it of weighted links 22, which will rest upon the glass strip, thereby causing sutiicient frictional engagement between the links 22' of the conveyor 22 and the strip of glass so that the rotation of the conveyors 2l and 22 will draw the strip of glass through the leer.

i In this connection it may be mentioned that the tension due to the drawing conveyor 22 has the etl'ect of tending to straighten out the glass in the leer during the annealing process, thereby preventing waves in the glass and also placing the entire strip under an even tension, which tends to secure a uniform consistency of the glass.

After the glass leaves the chamber D it is sulliciently cooled so thatit may be exposed to the open air and the conveyor 21 is extended to such a length that the glass at or adjacent tothe outside end thereof may be cutinto pieces and trimmed. I have not here shown mechanism for accomplishing this result, as the cutting and trimming may be accomplished either by hand or by other suitable machinery.

lVhen the glass has been cut into pieces, as described, it is setin plaster upon the topof a vcart or carrier, designated generally by the reference letterv E. lt will be understood that the purpose of setting the glass on ythe plaster is so that its upper surface may be ground and that the weight'. of the grinders on the glass may not shatter it due 'to irregularities in the lower surface of the glass. After the glass is set as described, ,ich piece being set upon one cart or carrier l, these carriers are placed on a conveying platform, designated generally by the refin'ence Vletter F, end to end and carried alongthe platform F beneath rough grinding devices and smooth grinding devices. Enough of the rough grinding de fieles and smooth grind- .ing devices are provided in conjunction with the conveyor F so that the glass on each cart or carrier E, as it passes alon the conveyor, may be both smoothed and ,inished ready for the polishing devices. l may also provide polishing 'devices in conjunction with the rough and smooth grinders so that the piece of glass need not be removed from the carrier E until one side of the glass has been ground and polished.

As soon as the glass has been ground, or ground and polished, upon one side, the plaster in which it is set is softened in any suitable manner and the glass isthen turned over on'the same cart, again set in plaster and then started along a second conveyor F,

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which is not here illustrated as the construction thereof is similar in all respects to the conveyor F here illustrated. I preferably provide suitable transfer means between the end of the conveyor F which grinds the lirst side of the glass and the start of the conveyor F which does the grinding of the second side of the glass, and in conjunction with such transfer means preferably provide such mechanical aids as may be desirable to assist in the turning over of the glass and the resetting thereof.

In connection with the grinding devices heretofore mentioned I have illustrated two forms thereof in Figures 8 to l0, and the construction thereof will now be more particularly described, together with the construction of the conveyors F. The conveyors F comprise a plurality of spaced supporting legs 24 which in turn support longitudinal frame members 25. Between the legs 24e is disposed a motor 26, which is connected through a worm gearing 2ST and chain 28 to a conveyor 29 mounted on sprockets 39, which are fixed to shafts 3l, which are suitably supported in position below and between the frame members 25. The conveyor 29 comprises a chain having at intervals a plurality of outwardly extending lugs 32, which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length or a fraction of the length of the carriers E. The carriers E comprise a platform 33, having at its four corners lat-- erally extending curved arms 3awhich are designed to form supports for rollers 35. The rollers 35 are flanged and run on a track 36, secured to the upper, inner edge of the frame members 25. A lug or arm 37 projects downwardly from the platform 33 and is designed to co-act with the lugs 32 so that movement of the conveyor will impart a corresponding longitudinal movement to the carts or Varriers lll along` the conveyor F. It will thus be seen that the conveyor 29, together with the carts or carriers E, form means for moving the pieces of cut and hardened glass continuously along the conveyor F, where they may come in contact with the grinding devices successively to smooth out irregularities in the surface of the glass. These grinding devices comprise yokes 38, which are mounted on the frame members 25, and extend across the conveyors F in position spaced above the path of travel of carriers E.

These yokes carry a central, vertical shaft 39, which is driven by the worm wheel Ll-O, which in turn connects with a worm el, driven by a motor l2 mounted on a suitable bracket 43 secured to the yoke 3S. A comparatively large and heavy bearing 39b is provided in the central portion or web of the yoke 38 and a somewhat lighter bearing 39a is provided at the. upper web of the voke. rl large wheel 53 is securel'l to the shalt 39 above the bearing 39b and acts as a retaining member to govern the relative vertical position of the shaft 39, if so desired. At the lower end of the shaft 39 is a grinding device which may be either of the form illustrated in Figures S and 9, or of the form illustrated in Figure lO. In either case the grinding 'is performed by rotating a cast iron disk la, which is connected with the shaft 39 in such position that the lower surface of the disk la contacts with the upper surface of the glass on the carrier E, so that when sand and water are introduced between the glass and the disk, then the rotation of the disk causes an abrading of the surface of the glass to thereby remove the irregularities thereof.

I have found it desirable to make the grinding disk vertically adjustable and have illustrated one form of device for accomplishing that result in Figure l1. In this form of device the large wheel 53 has a sleeve 54: keyed to the inner surface of the hub at 55. The interior of the sleeve 54- is threaded to co-act with a similarly threaded sleeve 56, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 39. rlhe shaft 39 is provided with a shoulder 57 below the sleeve 56 which co-acts therewith to hold the sleeve in place. Above t-he sleeve 56 is a thrust bearing 58 which in turn supports a sleeve 59, which in turn supports a split ring 60, which is fired to the shaft 39 below an annular flange 6l thereon. From the construction of the parts just described it will be seen that rotation of the wheel 53 will impart rotation to the sleeve 54, which in turn co-acts with the sleeve 56, which will cause the sleeve 56 to raise or lower, depending upon the direct-ion of rotation of the wheel 53. The sleeve 5G is held from rotation within the bearing 39b by means of a key-way 62, which, however, permits the sleeve to reciprocate vertically. Vertical reciprocation of the Asleeve 5G moves the shaft downwardly or upwardly, duc to the shoulder 57 or due to the sleeve 59 and collar 60. rlhe hub of the. wheel 53 is counter-sunk into a collar 63 mounted above the bearing 39b and above the hub is a thrust bearing'GiT'. upon which the worm gear l() rests. rlhe worm gear el() is slidably keyed tc the collar 59 at 55 and thc collar 59 is in turn slidably keyed to the shaft 39 at 6o. It will therefore be seen that vertical reciprocation of the shaft 39 and sleeve 59 will not affect the vertical position of the worin wheel 4l() when the shaft 39 is adjusted vertically.

In the form of device illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 the disk il consists of a single, large disk of slightly greater diameter than the width of the )ieee of glass to be ground. In the form of device illustrated in Figure l() a plurality of smaller disks are driven by means of a planetary transmission, which will now be described. These disks -l/ln are. each cured to a shaft l5, which has at its upper basis-excepting under conditions which simply involve duplication of the instrumentalities used with an increased plant-it becomes essential to producethe grinding and polishing activities on the basis of a standard common to a multiplicity of embryo plates so that tnese can be treated successively and in a rapid succession, and to permit this result to be obtained it is essential that the embryo plates have uniform thickness dimensions in order that the grinding and polishing instrumentalities need not be adjusted to meet the condition of individual plates.

ln the present invention this result is obtained by first fashioning a continuous sheet of uniform texture and dimensions as to thickness, cutting the sheet into the embryo plates, and then successively passing these plates through the zones of activity of the grinding and polishing instruinentalities to iirst rough grind, then smooth, and finally polish the faces of the plates. In producing this result the desired characteristics are produced by a stage development. This will be brieiiy referred to.

rl`he supply of molten metal to permit continuous sheet production is the melting tank of large dimensions. The metal is delivered from the tank over a spout on to the upper face of an endless-conveyor with the receiving face travelling continuously in a horizontal plane. The lip of the spout is spaced a distance above the conveyor, and the metal, in passing from the spout, falls on to the conveyor-there is no support to the stream content during this time nor is there any shaping or sizing activity during this period. In fact, the falling7 stream content is moving in a direction at substantial right angles to tne direction of movement of the conveyor face, with the result that the abrupt change in direction of movementof the stream content and the distance of falling7 practically prevents any attempt to maintain the actual texture conditions found in the falling stream and breaks down any ability to size the sheet during this period.

As a. result, the texture of the sheet is practically completed during the movement of the conveyor face from the point Where the stream reaches it to the sizing or dimensioning pass. Because of this the texture formation is actually produced while the metal is in the plane of the pass, and the flow characteristic which may be present is permittedv freedom of action so that strains, etc., are prevented. This freedom to compensate during the forming period ends when the metal passes through the dimensionmg pass, the result being` that the sheet thus formed in the pass is of a generally uniform texture; and when the sheet continues its travelthrough the leer, the annealing and tempering activity is upon a sheet formation that has this generally uniform texture characteristic.

It will be understood, of course, that when this sheet is cut into the sections having the dimensions of the plates to be ground and polished, each section will have the same general texture characteristics as well as the same thickness dimensions. Because of this condition, it is equally obvious that any cycle of grinding and polishingactivity which may be employed with one plate becomes applicable for a succession of plates, due to the similarity between plates in these particular characteristics. lt is thus possible to set up a general cycle and standard within the `grinding and polishing branch of the plant. Because of this it is possible to set up the conditions of a rough grinding zone, for instance, in which a succession of individual units act progressively on a plate which is moving through a path of travel relative to the succession of units.

lt will be readily understood, therefore, that the use of a grinding and polishing assemblage of instrumentalities capable of producing large production capacity with a minimum of instrumentalities necessitates the continued activity of the units in order to permit operation at a minimum cost of operation, and that it is necessary that the supply of the glass sections be adequate to maintain the activity.. Because of the necessity for uniformity in texture and thickness of the embryo plates to produce this result, the character of the plant for producing the embryo plates becomes of vital importance. Hence, there is a direct co-operation between the two branches of the present invention, the plate-production branch being essential to the finishing branch in order to permit of the production of embryo plates capable of supplying the finishing branch.

The advantages of such a continuous system of turning out glass will be obvious, both because of the low overhead expense involved therein due to the continuous use of all the machinery, and because of the improved quality of the glass due to its continuous production under like conditions. In

this connection it may be mentioned that the quality of glass depends upon so many different elements that it is almost impossible to secure glass of uniform quality because so many conditions must be made uniform under ordinary circumstances. With my improved method, however, it will be seen that the apparatus used will require but very slight attention to keep all the conditions of manufacture uniform throughout the time that the devices are being operated, so that the glass turned out will be uniformly of good quality.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement and construction of the various parts of my improved device without departing from the spirit of the invention-therein and it is my intention to cover by my claims such changes as may be reasonably included within the scope thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of manufacturing plate gia ss continuously consisting of allowing` the molten glass to flow from the melting tank through a spoutof substantially the width of the glass desired onto a moving conveyor, thence between the conveyorand a roller to reduce the glass to apred'etermined thickness, thence through a leer to temper and harden the glass, thence between pulling devices whichdraw the glass through and out of the leer.

2. The method of manufacturing plate glass consisting of'fiowing molten glass from a spout in'a melting tank onto a conveyor, thence horizontally through a pass toreduee the glass to'a predetermined thickness and width, drawing the glass through a leer to annealandhardenit by devicesidisposed beyond the heated portion of the leer'to maintain the sheet free from waves, then conducting it to position where it may be cut into pieces of predetermined size.

3. The method of manufacturing plate glass consisting 'ofliowing moltenglass from a spout in a melting tank onto a conveyor, thence 'horizontally through a pass to reduce the glass toa predetermined thickness and width, drawing the glass through a leer to anneal and hardenvit by devices disposed beyond the heated portion of the leer to maintainV the sheet free' from waves, thenV conductingit to positionwhere it may be cut into pieces of predetermined size, which maybe arranged end to end and'conducted beneath grinding devices.

4. The method lof lmanufacturing plate glass consisting of flowing molten glass from a spout in a melting tankonto a conveyor, thence 'horizontally througha pass to reduce the glass to a predetermined.thickness and width, drawing the glass through 'a leer to anneal and harden it'by devices disposed beyond the heatedportion thereof,then delivering the glass in its continuous sheet form to a station external of the leer to permit thelsheet to be cut intoA pieces of predetermined size, which may be arranged endto end and conducted beneathvgrinding devices, the first'of th'e grinding devices of varied abrasive'tenture.

5. In the art of producing continuous sheet glass, the method .of forming the sheet which consists in flowing the molten metal continua'll'yffrom a spout inA streamv form on t-oa plane surface movingcontinuously in a horizontal plane with the point of stream dis charge from the Vspout spaced above such surface to permit the stream to fall downwardly from the spout in a vertical direction onto such plane surface to limit sheet di-A mensioning activities on the stream contentv to be produced wholly upon such plane sur-V face, and advancing the streaincontent fromthe pointofiits' 'reception on such surface tov and through a di'mensioning pass by the ad.

vancingmovement of the surface, such surface forming thebottom of the dimensioning pass.

6. The methodr of manufacturing plate glass continuously consisting of flowing the v molten glass through a spout adapted to limit the flow' to a predetermined thickness a1id"'\vidth,"then'receiving the molten glass from this spout on a conveyor, then determining the thickness ofthe glass by forcing it between a rolland the conveyor, then dischargingit from the conveyor onto the slab of a leerythen` drawing thel glass across the slab in the leer into'an unheated chamber, then discharging it from the unheated cham ber and conveying it on the same: conveyor: a distance suiiicient to allow the glass to cool so that it may be trimmed andcutinto pieces.

7. The method of' manufacturing plate' glass 4continuously consisting of iio'wingthe molten glass through "a spout adapted to limitthe flow to a predetermined thickness and width, then receiving the Amoltenglass from this spout on aco'nveyor, then determining the thickness of the glassv by forcing Vit between a roll andtheconveyor, then discharging it from the conveyor onto the slab of a leer, and drawing'the glass Vacross theA slab."1 the leercomprising a heated chamber aboveI molten glass through a spout adapted tof limit the flow to 'a predetermined thickness and width, thenv receiving the molten glass from thisl spouton a conveyor, then determining the thickness of the glass by forcing it between a rolliand the conveyor, then discharging it from the conveyor onto the slab of a leer, then drawing the' glass across the slab in a leer into an unheated chamber, said unheated chamber being of such length that the glass dischargedfrom the discharge end thereof will not be injured by its contact with the open air.

9. The method of* manufacturing platey glass continuously consisting of flowing the molten'glass through a spout adaptedto limit the 'flow to a predetermined thickness `and width, then reoeiving'the moltenglass from this spout on a conveyor, then determining the thickness 'of the" glassby forcing it between a roll and the conveyor', then discharging it from the conveyor ontotlie slab of a leer, the leer comprising a heated chamber above' and .below the slab in which the lheat at the receiving end is greater than the heat at the 'dischargeend and thel temperature lat Iii.;

intermediate points are graduated from the lirst described to the second described end, then drawing the glass across the slab in the leer into an unheated chamber, said unheated chamber beinsp;` oi' such length that the glass discharged trom the discharge end thereof will not be injured by its contact with the open air, then discharging it from the unbeated chamber and conveying it on the same conveyor a distance sufficient to allow the glass to cool so that it may he trimmed and cut into pieces.

l0. A method as in claim 5 characterized in that the dimcnsioned siicet is annealed and tempered by continuing` the advancing movement of the sheet to lead it into and through a leer.

1l. The method of manufacturing glass continuously by flowing molten g tank thereof between retaining inf-mbers spaced a predetermined distsncap #t gate device to reduce the streai termined thickness, thence tls-:ong` anneal and harden the stream, tht ,fr

ulling` devices to draw the ,c out of the leer and maintain waves.

l2. The method of manutacturino glass continuously consisting et rlow n ten glass through a spout from a tank ot' molten glass onto a moving` coiiveyor, thence. between the conveyor and a. roller operated at speed not exceeding that ot the conveyor.' to reduce the glass to a predeternnned thickness, thence through a leer to temper and harden the glass, and thence between pulling devices to draw the L@dass throueh and out of the leer and maintain 'free from waves.

13. rllhe method of manufacturing plate continuously consistinrY of Flowing' molten glass through a spout trom a tank or' molten glass onto a moving conveyor', thence between the conveyor and a roller operated at a speed not exceeding that ot the conveyor to reduce the glass to a predetermined thickness, thence through a leer to temper and harden the glass, and thence between pulling devices to draw the glass through and out et' the leer and maintain it tree from waves, the leer being so arranged that the heat therein gradually decreases from the receiving to the discharge end.

le. Means for forming` plate glass continuously consisting ot means for flowing the molten glass continuously from a tank in stream ot predetermined size onto a moving conveyor, a leer having a stationary slab extended therethrough disposed at the end of the conveyor and adapted to receive the thickened glass on said slab, a movin@ conveyor at the second end of the slab adapted to receive the congealed strip ot lglass therefrom and means co-aet-ing with the second conveyfr conveyor aLA the second end ot the slab adapted to receive J Llena u .o-acting with the second conveyor ac ap cause said conveyor to draw the et L,lass over the slab in the leer.

glass continur flowingthe molten glass ctrom a tank in a stream predeter iined size onto a moving conveyor, a leer having a stationary slab ef;- tended therethrough disjosed at the end oi: the conveyor and adapted to receive the thickened glass onsaid slab, said leer being aranged so that the he therein decreases graduali" Vftrom the receiving; to the disch e end thereof, und the slab hm'ing plur f o*C spaced parallel transverse rollers ai angcd 'with their upper surfaces substantially thi li with the upper surface ot the slab, a movingl conveyor at the second end o' lai l t ed to receive the conge-:del fr in and means co-actin leer.

l?. Means 'tor ,rmingl plate glass continuously consist-in ot means 'tor flowing` the molten glass co inuously from a tank in a stream of prede: ined size onto a moving conveyor, a leer ha ing' a stationary slab tenoed therethrough disposed the end ot the conveyor and adapted to receive the thickened lass on said slab. the slab having a plurality et spaced parallel transverse rollers arranged with their upper surfaces substantially flush with the upper surface of the slab, a moving conveyor at the second end ot the slab adapted to receive the congealed strip of glass therefrom and means co-acting with the second conveyor adapted to cause said conveyor to draw the strip ot glass over the slab in the leer.

18. Means ifo-r forming plate glass continuously consisting' ot means for flowing` the molten glass continuously from a tank in a stream et predetermined size onto a moving@` conveyor, a leer having; a stationary slab eX- tended therethrough disposed at the end ot the conveyor and adapted to receive the thickened glass on said slab, a moving, conveyor at the second end ot the slab adapted to receive the congealed strip-of glass therefrom and a third conveyor disposed above the second conveyor and adapted to co-act therewith to grip the glass and draw it through the leer.

19. Means for forming plate glass in a continuous strip comprising a tank of molten glass, means for flowing a stream of a predetermined width and thickness onto a moving conveyor, a leer having a stationary slab eX- tended from one end to the other thereof, means for applying heat to either side of the slab, the slab bei-ng aranged to receive the thickened glass from the discharge end of the conveyor, an. unheated chamber disposed at the discharge end of the leer, a moving con-- veyor having one end extended through the last described chamber to position to receive the glass from the slab, the other end of the second conveyor being extended a distance from the chamber stiflicient to allow the glass to cool to a temperature so that it may be handled, and means adapted to co-act with said secondconveyor within said chamber to draw the glass along` said slab.

20. A method as in claim 5 characterized in that the dimensioned reet is annealed and tempered by continuing the advancing movement of the sheet to lead it into and through a leer While maintaining the sheet in a constant horizontal plane throughout its advancing movement.

2l. In the art of producing plate glass by a continuous process, wherein the glass is first formed in sheet form of greater thickness than the finished plate and then ground and polished to the desired thickness, the method of producing the sheet for the embryo plates, said method consisting in producing a continuous sheet by flowing the molten metal continuously `from a melting tank to and over a spout positioned over and'in spaced relation to a plane surface movable continuously in a horizontalplane and With the metal fiowing from the spout in stream form and the plane surface receiving the metal in such stream form, the conditions being such thatithe metal falls from the spout in a direction at substantial right angles to the direction of movement of the surface which receives it, Whereby the stream characteristic of the falling.

22. A method as in claim 21 characterized in that the plane of movement'of the bottom of the sheet into and through the leer is coincident with the plane of the moving surface which receives the fallingstream content.

23. A method as in claim 2l characterized in that the continuous annealed and tempered sheet is air-cooled at the eXit end of the leer and is cut to the grinding and polishing dimensions during such air-cooling period, whereby the stream content is maintained in constant movement Vfrom its exit from. the tank to its completion ready for the grinding and polishing activities.

24. A method as in claim 21 characterized in that the continuous annealed and tempered sheet is air-cooled at the exit end of the leer and is cut to the grinding and polishing dimensions during such air-cooling period, the plane of movement of the bottom of the sheet Ainto and through the leer and through the air-' cooling zone heingcoincident With the plane of the moving surface which receives the falling stream content.

EDVARD T, BROWN.

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